libels

[Li·bel]

Libel is the act of publishing a statement about someone that is not true and that gives a bad impression about the person.

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A brief writing of any kind, esp. a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc.

Noun
the written statement of a plaintiff explaining the cause of action (the defammation) and any relief he seeks

Noun
a tort consisting of false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person

Verb
print slanderous statements against; "The newspaper was accused of libeling him"

n.
A brief writing of any kind, esp. a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc.

n.
Any defamatory writing; a lampoon; a satire.

n.
A malicious publication expressed either in print or in writing, or by pictures, effigies, or other signs, tending to expose another to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule. Such publication is indictable at common law.

n.
The crime of issuing a malicious defamatory publication.

n.
A written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of his cause of action, and of the relief he seeks.

v. t.
To defame, or expose to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, by a writing, picture, sign, etc.; to lampoon.

v. t.
To proceed against by filing a libel, particularly against a ship or goods.

v. i.
To spread defamation, written or printed; -- with against.

Libel

Li"bel , n. [L. libellus a little book, pamphlet, libel, lampoon, dim. of liber the liber or inner bark of a tree; also (because the ancients wrote on this bark), paper, parchment, or a roll of any material used to write upon, and hence, a book or treatise: cf. F. libelle.] 1. A brief writing of any kind, esp. a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A libel of forsaking [divorcement].

2. Any defamatory writing; a lampoon; a satire. 3. (Law) A malicious publication expressed either in print or in writing, or by pictures, effigies, or other signs, tending to expose another to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule. Such publication is indictable at common law. &hand; The term, in a more extended sense, includes the publication of such writings, pictures, and the like, as are of a blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene character. These also are indictable at common law. 4. (Law) The crime of issuing a malicious defamatory publication. 5. (Civil Law & Courts of Admiralty) A written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of his cause of action, and of the relief he seeks.

Libel

Li"bel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Liebeled or Libelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Libeling or Libelling.] 1. To defame, or expose to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, by a writing, picture, sign, etc.; to lampoon.

Some wicked wits have libeled all the fair.

2. (Law) To proceed against by filing a libel, particularly against a ship or goods.

Libel

Li"bel , v. i. To spread defamation, written or printed; -- with against. [Obs.]

What's this but libeling against the senate?

[He] libels now 'gainst each great man.

A brief writing of any kind, esp. a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc.

To defame, or expose to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, by a writing, picture, sign, etc.; to lampoon.

To spread defamation, written or printed; -- with against.

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Usage Examples

It's a libel to say that I use my newspapers to support my other business interests. The fact is, I haven't got any other business interests.

Misspelled Form

libels, klibels, olibels, plibels, :libels, kibels, oibels, pibels, :ibels, lkibels, loibels, lpibels, l:ibels, luibels, l8ibels, l9ibels, loibels, ljibels, lkibels, lubels, l8bels, l9bels, lobels, ljbels, lkbels, liubels, li8bels, li9bels, liobels, lijbels, likbels, livbels, ligbels, lihbels, linbels, li bels, livels, ligels, lihels, linels, li els, libvels, libgels, libhels, libnels, lib els, libwels, lib3els, lib4els, librels, libsels, libdels, libwls, lib3ls, lib4ls, librls, libsls, libdls, libewls, libe3ls, libe4ls, liberls, libesls, libedls, libekls, libeols, libepls, libe:ls, libeks, libeos, libeps, libe:s, libelks, libelos, libelps, libel:s, libelas, libelws, libeles, libelds, libelxs, libelzs, libela, libelw, libele, libeld, libelx, libelz, libelsa, libelsw, libelse, libelsd, libelsx, libelsz.

Other Usage Examples

All the libel lawyers will tell you there's no libel any more, that everyone's given up.

I mean, in some cases with libel laws, you know, they can write things about people who have no course of action, because they can't afford to take legal action against them.